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How To Fail With Elizabeth Day

Every success story you’ve ever been told is incomplete. How To Fail with Elizabeth Day is the part they leave out.

Each week, Sunday Times #1 bestselling author Elizabeth Day sits down with someone extraordinary – and asks them about the moments that didn’t go according to plan and how these failures shaped them.

Kate Winslet on body image. Malala Yousafzai on rewriting her story. Pamela Anderson on refuting shame. Phoebe Waller-Bridge on creativity. Salman Rushdie on survival. Emilia Clarke on fame. What happens when the people you most admire stop performing and start telling the truth? Five hundred episodes in, we’re still finding out.

With sold-out nights at the London Palladium and Sydney Opera House, millions of listeners worldwide, and a British Podcast Award to its name, How To Fail is one of the UK’s most successful podcasts. And yes, we’re aware of the irony.

Pick an episode. Start anywhere.

An Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment production.

All guest booking is managed from an official Sony Music email address.

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow @sonypodcastsTo bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com

Copyright: © Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment

Latest Episodes:

How To Date: Communication - dating dos and don’ts Feb 25, 2025

Show notes

The first date has gone well for Elizabeth and Mel (the chemistry was sizzling, quite frankly) so now we turn our attention to the murky waters of early-stage communication in dating.

Psychotherapist, author and podcaster Emma Reed-Turrell joins Elizabeth and Mel this week to break down how to communicate with clarity and kindness, without ever losing our power. We explore why self-esteem plays a crucial role in shaping the way we communicate, the pitfalls of people-pleasing and how blind spots in our own behaviour often spill into our connections with others.

After you’ve listened, you can get all the resources and worksheets discussed at www.thepodclass.co.uk

Mel and Elizabeth are on a mission to revolutionise the world of dating! We want to make it a safe, fun and rewarding experience for everyone. If you’d like to join us, we’ve put together our very own How To Date Good Dating Pledge, consisting of 10 simple ‘Dating Commandments’. Have a look and sign up for free now at www.thepodclass.co.uk

You can buy a copy of Emma’s book, What Am I Missing? here.

If you don’t want to wait each week for new episodes join our wonderful community of subscribers where you can binge all episodes now, ad free, all at once. Follow the link to sign up:

https://howtofail.supportingcast.fm/

A Daylight and Sony Music Entertainment Production.

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Simon Callow: ‘Scottish reeling almost killed me.’ Feb 19, 2025

Show notes

Simon Callow is a critically acclaimed actor, director, author and star of classic movies such as Room with a View, Shakespeare in Love and Howards End. However, it’s his part as Gareth in Four Weddings and a Funeral that many took to their hearts.

Callow’s failures include a childhood rejection that still haunts him, a play he directed which was savaged by the critics, painting and how he was ‘very annoyed’ not to get the movie part of Amadeus despite having played it on stage.

✨ IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Intro

01:35 Childhood Aspirations and Influences

02:12 Coming Out and Its Impact

02:46 Reflections on Being Openly Gay in the Industry

06:34 Iconic Role in Four Weddings and a Funeral

08:16 Challenges and Fun of Filming

09:11 Amadeus: Stage to Screen Transition

12:31 Failures and Rejections

17:26 Personal Life and Family Background

20:12 University Days and Discovering Acting

22:10 Directing Challenges at the RSC

31:19 Artistic Pursuits and Painting

35:31 Modern Acting and Final Thoughts

Do you have something to share of your own? Click here to get in touch: howtofailpod.com

Production & Post Production Coordinator: Eric Ryan

Studio and Mix Engineer: Matias Torres Sole and Gulliver Tickell

Senior Producer: Selina Ream

Executive Producer: Carly Maile

Head of Marketing: Kieran Lancini

How to Fail is an Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment Production.

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts

To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How To Date: The first date Feb 17, 2025

Show notes

Mel and Elizabeth continue their dating journey and today, we’ve reached one of the most nerve-wracking, yet potentially thrilling, milestones: the first date.

Our guest is the fabulous Ryan Lanji, cultural producer, winner of Netflix’s Big Flower Fight and all-round icon. Ryan joins us to break down everything from the lead-up to the date, how to navigate the date itself and the immediate aftermath, as well as dating in the queer community. He also shares his own first-date stories, tips, and lessons learned - with hilarious results.

After you’ve listened, you can get all the resources and worksheets discussed at www.thepodclass.co.uk

Mel and Elizabeth are on a mission to revolutionise the world of dating! We want to make it a safe, fun and rewarding experience for everyone. If you’d like to join us, we’ve put together our very own How To Date Good Dating Pledge, consisting of 10 simple ‘Dating Commandments’. Have a look and sign up for free now at www.thepodclass.co.uk

If you don’t want to wait each week for new episodes join our wonderful community of subscribers where you can binge all episodes now, ad free, all at once. Follow the link to sign up:

https://howtofail.supportingcast.fm/

A Daylight and Sony Music Entertainment Production.

_______________________________________________________________________

Morrisons terms & conditions

More Card T&C’s: https://www.morrisons.com/more/terms-and-conditions/

General T&C’s https://groceries.morrisons.com/content/terms-and-conditions?srsltid=AfmBOor2xSfFNVtu22I9z5plcQkO6kId8jZ3NSdAF4X4Mt8JQkhO_ylQ

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Jessel Taank - ‘Real Housewives? It’s like Game of Thrones’ Feb 12, 2025

Show notes

Jessel Taank is the first South Asian housewife and the breakout star of her debut season of The Real Housewives of New York in 2023. In this episode we speak openly about the challenges of conceiving her twin sons through IVF and the misplaced shame she felt at not being able to have children naturally.

Her failures include failing to overcome Indian beauty ideals, a failure to balance motherhood with personal ambition, and a failure to understand the mechanisms of reality TV (and yes…we get INTO it).

✨ IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Intro

02:38 Navigating Reality TV and Conflict

03:17 The Dark Turn of Real Housewives

05:31 Upbringing and Family Background

08:59 Struggles with Indian Beauty Ideals

11:06 Facing Racism and Inherited Trauma

16:50 Balancing Motherhood and Personal Ambition

24:26 Freezing Eggs and Meeting My Husband

24:39 The Struggles of Miscarriages and Procedures

24:57 The Journey to Acceptance

25:51 The Reality of Raising Twins

27:26 Balancing Motherhood and Personal Ambitions

31:10 Impact of Fertility Treatments on Intimacy

36:19 Navigating Reality TV

40:16 Coping with Social Media Criticism

Have something to share of your own? I'd love to hear from you! Click here to get in touch: howtofailpod.com

Production & Post Production Coordinator: Eric Ryan

Studio and Mix Engineer: Gulliver Lawrence-Tickell

Producer: Hannah Talbot

Executive Producer: Carly Maile

Head of Marketing: Kieran Lancini

How to Fail is an Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment Production.

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts

To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How To Date: How to meet someone Feb 10, 2025

Show notes

Elizabeth and Mel get into the exciting, terrifying and sometimes overwhelming world of how on earth to meet someone. We discuss online dating and IRL encounters and how to navigate it all without losing our self-esteem.

Our guest this week is the brilliant Sharmaine Lovegrove, whom many of you might already know as one of the hosts of our previous podclass, How To Write A Book. Sharmaine went through a marital separation in her early 40s and threw herself into the apps. She joins us to share her many anecdotes and first-hand accounts of dating/meeting people post-break-up. Plus: what it means to attract what you put out into the world and how to stay resilient when facing the rejection that is an inevitable part of dating.

After you’ve listened, you can get all the resources and worksheets discussed at www.thepodclass.co.uk

Mel and Elizabeth are on a mission to revolutionise the world of dating! We want to make it a safe, fun and rewarding experience for everyone. If you’d like to join us, we’ve put together our very own How To Date Good Dating Pledge, consisting of 10 simple ‘Dating Commandments’. Have a look and sign up for free now at www.thepodclass.co.uk

If you don’t want to wait each week for new episodes join our wonderful community of subscribers where you can binge all episodes now, ad free, all at once. Follow the link to sign up:

https://howtofail.supportingcast.fm/

A Daylight and Sony Music Entertainment Production.

_______________________________________________________________________

Morrisons terms & conditions

More Card T&C’s: https://www.morrisons.com/more/terms-and-conditions/

General T&C’s https://groceries.morrisons.com/content/terms-and-conditions?srsltid=AfmBOor2xSfFNVtu22I9z5plcQkO6kId8jZ3NSdAF4X4Mt8JQkhO_ylQ

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Nick Grimshaw - 'I told The Guardian I was gay before I told my parents' Feb 05, 2025

Show notes

Broadcaster and author Nick Grimshaw joins Elizabeth to talk about failing his maths GCSE, failing his business and communications degree, his failure to be present, and failing at New Year’s resolutions.

✨ IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Intro

01:25 Rising to Fame at BBC Radio 1

02:47 The Importance of Authenticity

03:58 Struggles with Sexuality and Acceptance

08:38 Family Dynamics and Parental Expectations

11:23 University Challenges and Career Aspirations

15:09 Balancing Creativity and Academic Pressure

27:11 Discovering a Passion for Radio

28:50 Transition to Breakfast Show Host

31:19 Facing Criticism and Changing Media Landscape

33:25 Youthful Image and Career Evolution

39:25 Struggles with Being Present

40:36 Meditation and Mindfulness Journey

44:04 New Year's Resolutions and Personal Growth

Have something to share of your own? I'd love to hear from you! Click here to get in touch: howtofailpod.com

Production & Post Production Coordinator: Eric Ryan

Studio and Mix Engineer: Gulliver Lawrence-Tickell

Producer: Hannah Talbot

Executive Producer: Carly Maile

Head of Marketing: Kieran Lancini

How to Fail is an Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment Production.

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts

To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Introducing How To Date: Am I ready to date? Feb 03, 2025

Show notes

Elizabeth and Mel look at one of the most important yet daunting questions: “Am I ready to date?”

Whether you’re returning to the dating world after divorce, heartbreak, loss or simply wondering if it’s the right time to put yourself out there, this episode explores what it really means to be ‘date ready’.

After you’ve listened, you can get all the resources and worksheets discussed at www.thepodclass.co.uk

Mel and Elizabeth are on a mission to revolutionise the world of dating! We want to make it a safe, fun and rewarding experience for everyone. If you’d like to join us, we’ve put together our very own How To Date Good Dating Pledge, consisting of 10 simple ‘Dating Commandments’. Have a look and sign up for free now at www.thepodclass.co.uk

Let’s make dating better - for all of us!

If you don’t want to wait each week for new episodes join our wonderful community of subscribers where you can binge all episodes now, ad free, all at once. Follow the link to sign up:

https://howtofail.supportingcast.fm/

A Daylight and Sony Music Entertainment Production.

_______________________________________________________________________

Morrisons terms & conditions

More Card T&C’s: https://www.morrisons.com/more/terms-and-conditions/

General T&C’s https://groceries.morrisons.com/content/terms-and-conditions?srsltid=AfmBOor2xSfFNVtu22I9z5plcQkO6kId8jZ3NSdAF4X4Mt8JQkhO_ylQ

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Dame Harriet Walter - ‘I wish I’d had all this attention when I was 40’ Jan 29, 2025

Show notes

Olivier and Emmy-award-winning Dame Harriet Walter must have acting in her blood: her uncle is the legendary horror star Christopher Lee, she turned down a place at Oxford in favour of drama school, and began her career at the Royal Shakespeare Company. On screen you’ll know her from Killing Eve, Ted Lasso, The Crown or as Lady Caroline in Succession - plus films including Sense and Sensibility, Atonement and The Last Duel. On stage she’s embodied everyone from Prospero to Elizabeth I.

Her failures include failing to master the piano or music theory, failing to get roles that she auditioned for, and finally failing to cook. I absolutely loved talking to this unbelievably smart and astute woman. Enjoy!

She Speaks by Harriet Walter is out now.

✨ IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Intro

01:25 Acting Journey

04:38 Exploring Shakespeare's Women

08:22 The Challenges of Acting

09:29 Family Background and Influences

14:17 Succession and Intimidating Roles

17:59 Failures and Reflections

25:38 Pursuing Drama School Dreams

26:34 Influence of Family and Early Inspirations

28:04 Facing Rejection and Audition Failures

31:58 Portraying Historical Figures

33:45 Playing Margaret Thatcher

37:56 Personal Loss and Love

41:45 Fear of Loneliness and Self-Reliance

45:53 Struggles with Food and Anorexia

Have something to share of your own? I'd love to hear from you! Click here to get in touch: howtofailpod.com

Production & Post Production Coordinator: Eric Ryan

Studio and Mix Engineer: Gulliver Lawrence-Tickell

Senior Producer: Selina Ream

Executive Producer: Carly Maile

Head of Marketing: Kieran Lancini

How to Fail is an Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment Production.

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts

To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sharon Horgan - ‘My marriage failed but it had such a positive impact on my life’ Jan 22, 2025

Show notes

Sharon Horgan is a writer, actor and director. She has an uncanny ability to craft complex, compelling and heartfelt characters who find comedy even in the darkest of situations: just like in her hit series Bad Sisters - which has won a Peabody Award and four Emmy nominations. You’ll also know her from the BAFTA-nominated show Pulling, plus starring and writing in the critically-acclaimed shows Catastrophe and Motherland.

Her failures include dropping out of art college and drama school, a failed audition and finally - a big one - her marriage.

✨ IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Intro

02:48 Balancing Work and Life

05:04 Making People Laugh

06:20 Portraying Eva in Bad Sisters

11:46 First Failure: Art College

17:10 Struggles and Resilience

21:03 Grief and Catharsis in Bad Sisters

24:13 A Beautiful Goodbye

24:37 The Wild Boyfriend and the Audition

26:33 The Audition Experience

28:12 Pursuing Acting and Writing

29:13 Building Confidence in the Industry

32:15 The End of a Marriage

35:30 Parenting After Divorce

40:29 Looking Forward: New Projects and Reflections

Have something to share of your own? I'd love to hear from you! Click here to get in touch: howtofailpod.com

Production & Post Production Coordinator: Eric Ryan

Studio and Mix Engineer: Gulliver Lawrence-Tickell

Producer: Hannah Talbot

Executive Producer: Carly Maile

Head of Marketing: Kieran Lancini

How to Fail is an Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment Production.

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts

To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stephen Merchant: ‘Most famous people are f**cked up’ Jan 15, 2025

Show notes

Actor, writer and director Stephen Merchant joins How To Fail this week and is reflective, fascinating and - yes - even funny. We talk about what he learned from Ricky Gervais when co-writing The Office, on feeling rattled turning 50 and how it’s hard to fail as a stand-up comedian (but he got over it).

✨ IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Intro

17:16 Height and Humor

17:50 Reflections on Failure and Success

22:12 Stephen Career Journey

30:50 The Office and Ordinary Lives

32:46 The Comfort of Rewatchable Comedies

33:53 Exploring Dark Roles in Acting

35:42 Embracing Height as an Advantage

37:37 School Experiences and Early Ambitions

45:18 The Journey to Comedy and Stand-Up

52:41 Lessons from Stand-Up Comedy

58:48 Realizing No One Has Life Figured Out

01:03:39 Reflections on Success and Happiness

Have something to share of your own? I'd love to hear from you! Click here to get in touch: howtofailpod.com

Production & Post Production Coordinator: Eric Ryan

Studio and Mix Engineer: Gulliver Lawrence-Tickell

Senior Producer: Selina Ream

Executive Producer: Carly Maile

Head of Marketing: Kieran Lancini

How to Fail is an Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment Production.

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts

To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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